• Nebraska offensive coordinator Danny Langsdorf
• Randy Gregory to enter draft
• What a crazy year for Nebraska Football
• Nebraska and Miami battle it out in Lincoln
• Nebraska rolls past Florida Atlantic
• Three Nebraska Football night games announced
• Statement from athletic director and my quick thoughts
• UCLA embarrasses Nebraska 41-21
• Nebraska survives 37-34 against Wyoming
• I’m ready for some football!
• Thoughts heading into the 2013 season
• It’s Nebraska vs Wisconsin in the Big 10 Championship
• Thoughts on the Huskers season so far
• Big10 releases schedules for 2015 and 2016
• Aaron Green set to transfer from Nebraska

Week 3 Recap

The Huskers posted a perfect 5-0 record this week. The pitching was solid, but the real story was the offense.  The Husker bats pushed across 51 runs this week (10.2 per game) off 65 hits (13 per game) to drown out their opponents.  The Huskers took advantage of big innings scoring 5 or more runs in an inning 4 times.  The pitching certainly held it’s own, posting a 3.40 ERA on the week and a complete game victory on Friday.

Nebraska 11 - South Dakota State 2
Kyle Bubak sparked a 16-hit barrage with a 4-5 day in the leadoff spot scoring 4 times.  Casey Hauptman kept the South Dakota State Jakrabbits bats silent going 6 innings and giving up just a run on 4 hits and 3 Ks.  The game was back and forth until the Huskers scored 4 runs over the 5th and 6th inning and put the game away with 5 in the 8th.

On offense, Adam Bailey helped Bubak charge the Huskers going 2 for 5 with 4 RBIs including his 5th homer of the year.  Cody Asche and Cody Neer added two hits apeice to help the cause.

Nebraska 9 - Cal State Northridge 3
Mike Nesseth gave up back to back home runs in the 4th inning a 2-run shot then a solo shot, but otherwise kept the Matadors at bay for his first complete game victory of the season.  Adam Bailey powered the Husker offense with 3 RBIs and Tyler Farst scored twice.  The Huskers gave Nesseth all the runs he would need in a 5-run 2nd capped by Bailey’s 2-RBI single.

On the year, Nesseth is 2-1 with a 1.71 ERA and has struck out 26.  With the four game series over the weekend, the long outing allowed the Huskers to save their bullpen for the rest of the weekend.

Nebraska 11 - Cal State Northridge 5
The Huskers again erupted for a big 2nd inning scoring 7 runs and giving JUCO transfer Jordan Roualdes all the runs he needed.   A basese loaded two-out double from Cody Neer broke the game open and vaulted the Huskers out to a 6-0 lead.  Neer later scored on a Cody Asche single to center to cap the scoring at 7-0. 

Roualdes went 6 innings, allowing 3 earned runs for the win and Matt Freeman finished up the final 3 for the save allowing just 1 run.

Nebraska 12 - Cal State Northridge 6
In the nightcap, the Huskers fell behind quickly for the only time all week.  Senior Erik Bird struggled on the mound, lasting just 3 innings, allowing 5 runs on 6 hits and 4 walks.  The Huskers bats would pick him up, however, exploding for 8 runs in the bottom of the 4th to take their first lead of the ballgame.

After a Cade Thompson solo home run, the Huskers loaded the bases with two singles and a hit batter for Kyle Bubak.  Bubak singled to right, scoring two and bringing the Huskers within 1 run, 5-4.  After DJ Belfonte was hit by a pitch, Bailey put the huskers up 6-5 with a two run single up the middle.  After a pitching change, Farst drilled a 3-run bomb over the right field wall to give the Huskers a 9-5 lead. 

Nebraska 8 - Cal State Northridge 2
Michael Mariot dominated the Matadors on getaway day going 7 innings allowing just 1 earned run and walking just 1 while striking out 4 to earn his first win of the season.   Casey Hauptman finished the job, allowing 1 more run over 2 innings while fanning 4.

For the offense, Kyle Bubak continued his hot streak pounding out 4 hits in as many at bats drving in one and scoring twice.  Senior 3rd baseman Jake Mort hit just his 2nd homer of his career with a 3-run blast just over the wall in right-center.  Cody Neer also continued his hot hitting with a 2 for 4 day with 2 RBIs.

A look back: The Good

Kyle Bubak - The JUCO transfer was a terror at the plate this week.  Kyle was 12 of 23 for a .522 average with 5 RBIs powering the Huskers.
Adam Bailey - In what’s becoming the norm for Bailey, the JUCO transfer was a run producing machine with a team-leading 11 RBIs to go with 2 homeruns and a salty .421 average, Bailey now leads the Big XII in homers, RBIs and is 2nd in the league in total bases.
Cody Neer - It was looking like incoming freshman Cory Burleson was going to take over as the frontrunner for the catcher position, but Cody wasn’t going away quietly.  Posting a team-leading .538 average for the week with 6 RBIs including 4 for the first game on Saturday, it’s clear we have a heated race for the crucial battery spot.
DJ Belfonte - This was a week DJ needed.  After a rough start to the season with a sub .200 average, DJ bounced back this week posting a .429 average and raising his season average to .241.  The Huskers will need DJ to produce this season for it all to come together.
Mike Nesseth - Going the distance in Friday’s 9-3 win was not only a dominating performance (aside from the two pitches he’d like to have back) but it allowed the Huskers to preserve their bullpen for the rest of the weekend, something very important in a long 4-game series.
Michael Mariot - After a rough start a week ago, Michael bounced back showing that when he has his control, he’s one of Nebraska’s top pitchers.
Casey Hauptman - Mike Anderson has compared Casey to Dan Jennings, a guy you can call on when you really need some outs. On the week, he pitched 8.0 innings, gave up just 2 earned runs and struck out 7 to preserve his team-leading 1.45 ERA.
Free Passes - Putting aside the 7 walks that the Huskers surrendered on Saturday night, the team gave just 4 free passes in the other 4 games.  So far this season, when the team has struggled on the mound it’s been when the control isn’t there.  For this team to succeed, Coach Newman needs to get his message accross and eliminate the free pass.

A look back: The Not So Good

Erik Bird - The senior righty has had a rough start to the season.  In 3 starts he’s averaged less than 4 innings of work and surrendered 12 earned runs for a team-high 9.26 ERA.  The Huskers will need Erik this season to bring some leadership to a young pitching staff.
Nick Suillivan - Nick has had a rough start to the year, batting just .184 while starting 11 of the 14 games with just 1 extra base hit.  Nick’s a solid glove in the outfield, but the Huskers will need his bat to start heating up, especially in conference play when you suspect the young hitters will drop a little due to tougher competition.

Overall Grade: A-
The offensive explosion was nice to see out of this Husker team with some of the veterans stepping up and a continued push from the youngsters.  The pitching was solid, but the 7 free passes on Saturday night is like the cold bug that won’t go away.  We certainly can’t do that against the UTs, aTms and OUs of the world.

The Huskers take the midweek off and start Big XII play at Lubbock, Texas against the 6-8 Red Raiders of Texas Tech.

2 Responses to “Husker Baseball Blog: Week 3”

1. Husker Baseball Blog: Week 3 - Nebraska Sports Blog Says:
   March 9th, 2009 at 2:08 pm

   [...] Husker Baseball Blog: Week 3 [...]

2. Rantings and Ramblings From All Around.. » Blog Archive » Husker Baseball Blog: Week 3 | Nebraska Sports Blog | Nebraska … Says:
   March 13th, 2009 at 12:36 pm

   [...] … especially in conference play when you suspect the young hitters will drop a little due to tougher competition. The Huskers take the midweek off and start Big XII play at Lubbock, Texas against the 6-8 Red Raiders of Texas Tech . …Continue Reading… [...]